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"THE OPENING OF KHODJALY AIRPORT WILL MEAN A CROSSING OF THE LINE"
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 20 2013
Orkhan Sattarov, the head of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza
On February 18th the panel discussion "Stability and Security in
the South Caucasus: prospects of German-Azerbaijani relations"
devoted to the 21st anniversary of the Khodjaly tragedy took place
in the German Parliamentary Society.15 German MPs, German diplomats,
political scientists, publicists, journalists, and Azerbaijani guests
participated in the event.
The vice-president of Bundestag Edward Osvald performed an introductory
speech. "These days Azerbaijan remembers sad pages of its history: war,
blood, and occupation," Osvald noted. "Developments in Khodjaly and
the war in Nagorno-Karabakh left deep wounds in the national memory
of Azerbaijani people. Destruction of whole families, an exile from
the motherland, the occupation of the territories by foreign troops
are injuries for Azerbaijan. We know what a difficult situation
there is in Azerbaijan, and we hope for complete settlement of this
conflict." Speaking about settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and Germany's role, Osvald stated that the OSCE was dealing with it,
where Germany played a big role. The European Union suggests mechanisms
of approaching within the program of Eastern Partnership.
He also touched on cooperation between Germany and Azerbaijan. In
recent years Azerbaijan has managed to prove that it is a reliable
energy partner of Europe and has taken an important place in its
strategy of energy security. Osvald hopes that this position of
Azerbaijan will improve in the future.
The ambassador of Azerbaijan in Germany, Pavriz Shakhbazov, read the
resolution of the Bundestag Petition Committee, which was adopted
in 2011 and devoted to the Khodjaly tragedy: "Slaughtering of the
Azerbaijani civil population of Khodjaly by Armenian armed groups
on February 26, 1992 led to the murder of 613 people. And it must
be recognized. Only historic truth can be a foundation for long-term
peacemaking. Armenia, which complains about its own genocide, should
show an understanding of the problem of Azerbaijani people."
Regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ambassador reminded that
four resolutions of the UN Security Council requiring withdrawal of
the occupational troops hadn't been fulfilled. In 2009 the European
Parliament adopted a similar resolution and Bundestag demanded support
of the German federal government with its implementation.
Pavriz Shakhbazov informed the audience, referring to the OSCE
report, that Armenians from third countries settled in the occupied
territories. It violates the international law. The ambassador
also mentioned the planned opening of the reconstructed airport in
Khodjaly. He said that such steps confirmed Armenia's intention to
maintain the status quo.
Rainer Stinner, MP from the Party of Free Democrats, urged Europe
to provide a clear position on the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh
and neighboring regions. "We have to be precise: the occupation
of Azerbaijani territories, especially seven regions around
Nagorno-Karabakh, contradicts the international law," the MP said.
Stinner doubts in effectiveness of the mediation mission by the OSCE
Minsk Group with its current structure. "If we look at the Minsk
Group's members, we will see that huge Armenian Diasporas exist in
France and the USA, which intensively influence political processes
in these countries. As for Russia, I will ask only one provocative
question: is Russia interested in settlements of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, considering its regional interests?" he asked and urged
Europe to find mechanisms of motivation to settle the conflict
for Russia.
The foreign political speaker of Bundestag Philipp Misfelder criticized
the prospect of the Khodjzly airport opening because "it would be the
line which Armenia shouldn't cross and would confirm that Armenia
wants to freeze the status quo." Misfelder wants the EU to be an
active mediator in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as
the current format of the Minsk Group is very ineffective.
He criticized the prejudged position of German mass media toward
Azerbaijan. "I ordered to my scientific service to analyze publications
on Azerbaijan in Germany and compare them with publications in other
countries. It appeared that we can speak about a German phenomenon,"
Misfelder stated. He thinks it is wrong that journalists ignore
the strategic aspects of the bilateral relations and exaggerate
insignificant moments.
The same view is shared by the well-known German publicist Richard
Kissler. "None of post-Soviet countries is blamed by the German mass
media like Azerbaijan. I have many times been in Azerbaijan and I
can say the authors of such articles absolutely do not culture and
traditions of the country," Kissler summed up.
Johannes Kars, socialist MP, urged the EU, including Germany, to
cooperate with Turkey for settlement of regional problems, considering
that Azerbaijan and Turkey are strategic allies in the region.
This panel discussion was the first big event organized by the
German-Azerbaijani Forum this year. It caused significant interest
in the German political environment.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/37249.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 20 2013
Orkhan Sattarov, the head of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza
On February 18th the panel discussion "Stability and Security in
the South Caucasus: prospects of German-Azerbaijani relations"
devoted to the 21st anniversary of the Khodjaly tragedy took place
in the German Parliamentary Society.15 German MPs, German diplomats,
political scientists, publicists, journalists, and Azerbaijani guests
participated in the event.
The vice-president of Bundestag Edward Osvald performed an introductory
speech. "These days Azerbaijan remembers sad pages of its history: war,
blood, and occupation," Osvald noted. "Developments in Khodjaly and
the war in Nagorno-Karabakh left deep wounds in the national memory
of Azerbaijani people. Destruction of whole families, an exile from
the motherland, the occupation of the territories by foreign troops
are injuries for Azerbaijan. We know what a difficult situation
there is in Azerbaijan, and we hope for complete settlement of this
conflict." Speaking about settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and Germany's role, Osvald stated that the OSCE was dealing with it,
where Germany played a big role. The European Union suggests mechanisms
of approaching within the program of Eastern Partnership.
He also touched on cooperation between Germany and Azerbaijan. In
recent years Azerbaijan has managed to prove that it is a reliable
energy partner of Europe and has taken an important place in its
strategy of energy security. Osvald hopes that this position of
Azerbaijan will improve in the future.
The ambassador of Azerbaijan in Germany, Pavriz Shakhbazov, read the
resolution of the Bundestag Petition Committee, which was adopted
in 2011 and devoted to the Khodjaly tragedy: "Slaughtering of the
Azerbaijani civil population of Khodjaly by Armenian armed groups
on February 26, 1992 led to the murder of 613 people. And it must
be recognized. Only historic truth can be a foundation for long-term
peacemaking. Armenia, which complains about its own genocide, should
show an understanding of the problem of Azerbaijani people."
Regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ambassador reminded that
four resolutions of the UN Security Council requiring withdrawal of
the occupational troops hadn't been fulfilled. In 2009 the European
Parliament adopted a similar resolution and Bundestag demanded support
of the German federal government with its implementation.
Pavriz Shakhbazov informed the audience, referring to the OSCE
report, that Armenians from third countries settled in the occupied
territories. It violates the international law. The ambassador
also mentioned the planned opening of the reconstructed airport in
Khodjaly. He said that such steps confirmed Armenia's intention to
maintain the status quo.
Rainer Stinner, MP from the Party of Free Democrats, urged Europe
to provide a clear position on the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh
and neighboring regions. "We have to be precise: the occupation
of Azerbaijani territories, especially seven regions around
Nagorno-Karabakh, contradicts the international law," the MP said.
Stinner doubts in effectiveness of the mediation mission by the OSCE
Minsk Group with its current structure. "If we look at the Minsk
Group's members, we will see that huge Armenian Diasporas exist in
France and the USA, which intensively influence political processes
in these countries. As for Russia, I will ask only one provocative
question: is Russia interested in settlements of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, considering its regional interests?" he asked and urged
Europe to find mechanisms of motivation to settle the conflict
for Russia.
The foreign political speaker of Bundestag Philipp Misfelder criticized
the prospect of the Khodjzly airport opening because "it would be the
line which Armenia shouldn't cross and would confirm that Armenia
wants to freeze the status quo." Misfelder wants the EU to be an
active mediator in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as
the current format of the Minsk Group is very ineffective.
He criticized the prejudged position of German mass media toward
Azerbaijan. "I ordered to my scientific service to analyze publications
on Azerbaijan in Germany and compare them with publications in other
countries. It appeared that we can speak about a German phenomenon,"
Misfelder stated. He thinks it is wrong that journalists ignore
the strategic aspects of the bilateral relations and exaggerate
insignificant moments.
The same view is shared by the well-known German publicist Richard
Kissler. "None of post-Soviet countries is blamed by the German mass
media like Azerbaijan. I have many times been in Azerbaijan and I
can say the authors of such articles absolutely do not culture and
traditions of the country," Kissler summed up.
Johannes Kars, socialist MP, urged the EU, including Germany, to
cooperate with Turkey for settlement of regional problems, considering
that Azerbaijan and Turkey are strategic allies in the region.
This panel discussion was the first big event organized by the
German-Azerbaijani Forum this year. It caused significant interest
in the German political environment.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/37249.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress